Rail-clamp.



B. P. HICKS.

RAIL CLAMP.

APPLICATION ElLED JAN. 12, 1916.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

\HB coLumBlA PLANOGRAPH C0..- WASHINGTON. D. C.

B. P. HICKS.

RAILCLAMP.

APPLICATION mEn JAN.12, 191s.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Elf 7 Lwmm.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 20.. WASHINGTON. D. (3

1 UFFWFE.

BERA P. HICKS, F ASHFORI), ALABAMA.

RAIL-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed Apr. is, rare.

Application filed January 12, 1916. Serial No. 71,732.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, BERA P. HICKS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ashford, in the county of Houston, State of Alabama, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Clamps; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The present invention is directed to improvements in rail clamps, andhas for its object to construct a device of this character which willeffectually clamp the adjacent ends of rails against accidentaldisplacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail clamp havingnovel means for securing the rail to the tie plate, and one wherein therails can be readily attached to or removed from engagement with a tieplate.

With these and other objects in view, this invention resides in thenovel features of construction, formation, combination and arrangementof parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of theclamp. Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line 33 ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the tie plate with the rails andclamping blocks removed. Fig. 5 is a side elevation 1 of the clamp withthe rails engaged therewith. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of oneof the clamping blocks. Fig. 7 is a sectional perspective view of thetie plate. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the locking plates.

Referring to the drawing 1 indlcates the tie plate which has formedthereon a double row of blocks 2, the adjacent sides and ends of whichare spaced and provided with overhanging shoulders 3 and 4,respectively, which overhang the tie plate so as to provide longitudinaland transverse channels 5 and 6, and a central longitudinal channel 7 inwhich are engaged the flanges of the rails 8, said rails having theirwebs provided with openings 9, the purpose of which will appear later.

A plurality of clamping blocks 10 are provided, which have their lowersurfaces provided with spaced lugs 11 which have their sides providedwith inclined shoulders 12 which are adapted to engage the overhang ingshoulders 4 of the blocks 2 when said lugs are engaged in the transversechannels 6. The inner ends of the blocks 10 are provided with tenons 13which are adapted to engage in the openings 9 formed 1n the webs of therails 8. After the blocks 10 are engaged in the respective channels 6,the looking plates 141 are engaged in the longitudinal channels 5, saidplates having inclined side edges 15 which are adapted to engage theoverhanging shoulders 3 formed in the sides of the blocks 2.

It will be noted that the locking plates 1 1 engage in the spacesbetween the lugs 11 of the clamping blocks 10, thus preventingaccidental removal of the same. The locking plates 14 are furtherprovided with spike openings 16 which are adapted to register with theopenings 17 formed in the tie plate 1, whereby when the spikes aredriven through the registered openings, the locking plates are heldagainst accidental removal.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a rail clamp hasbeen provided which is constructed in such a manner that the rails canbe firmly clamped with their meeting ends in abutting relation, andreadily disengaged from the clamp when it is desired to replace therails.

What is claimed is 1. A rail clamp comprising a tie plate, said platehaving formed thereon outer longitudinal channels and a centrallongitudinal channel, transverse channels intersecting the longitudinalchannels, said central channel being adapted to receive the meetingsends of the pair of rails, blocks removably engaged in the transversechannels and having their inner ends engaged with the webs of the rails,and means slidably engaged in the outer longitudinal channels forengaging the locking blocks to prevent accidental removal from therespective channels.

2. A rail clamp comprising a tie engaging plate, said plate havingformed thereon longitudinally arranged blocks, said blocks beingarranged in rows to provide outer channels, and an intermediate channel,transverse channels intersecting the longitudinal channels, the adjacentsides and ends of said blocks having inclined shoulders which overhangthe plate, the central channel being adapted to be engaged by themeeting ends of the rails, locking blocks having their inner endsengaged With the having spaced lugs formed on their under surfaces, saidlugs having inclined shoulders for engaging the similar shoulders of thetransverse channels, said locking blocks vent accidental Withdrawal ofthe locking blocks.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

BERA P. HICKS.

Webs of the rails, and locking plates slidably WVitnesses: engaged inthe outer longitudinal channels F. L. FELLoWs, and in the spaces betweensaid lugs to-pre- W. H. HILSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing' the Commissioner 01' Patents, Washington, D. 0.

